Valarie Handy
Valarie Handy was re-elected to the Cherryland Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in June 2022.
Handy is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and works for the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center as a social scientist on their data analytics team. She is also a graduate of Cherryland’s inaugural Emerging Leaders Program.
Her career with the USDA gives her a unique perspective on the issues rural communities face across the country and she puts that to good use as an active member of multiple local organizations. Handy currently serves as board chair for Commongrounds Cooperative, a committee chair for Traverse Connect Young Professionals, and volunteers with the City of Traverse City Election Precinct #1.
